Recipes for Unleavened Bread (Without Yeast, Gluten Free, No Oven)

These are various recipes you can use to make unleavened bread, also known as matzah or matzo, during the Biblical holidays of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. There's a little bit of everything here, including gluten-free and vegan options, with recipes made from all-purpose wheat flour to corn masa to buckwheat to chickpea flour. Some of these are made on the stovetop, while others can be baked in the oven. These are wonderful homemade alternatives to boxed matzah, which can be hard to find and is sometimes expensive. These recipes are simple and delicious, and easy to prepare during the week of Unleavened Bread or any time of the year!

I think this post is important because the Living God is inclusive in his holidays, and there are ways for all people and cultures to take part in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, no matter what ingredients are available in their area or despite limitations such as allergies. We are free to use various recipes throughout the week, just so long as they are not leavened. I am giving multiple recipes because there is no single 'right' recipe to use during this time.

Where does unleavened bread come from in the Bible?

The directive for eating unleavened bread for a week was given in Exodus, following the final plague against Pharaoh on Passover. So quickly did Pharaoh change his mind and finally free the slaves that they had very little time to prepare for departure, not even time for their dough to rise and become leavened. Jesus told us to "eat to remember" and eating unleavened bread reminds us of the miracles that the Living God performed many years ago in Egypt, and it also reminds us that our circumstances can quickly change when we aren't expecting them to. Unleavened bread is full of hope.

What is the difference between unleavened bread and regular bread?

Regular bread - whether sandwich bread from the grocery store or artisan sourdough bread - is made using leaven, which means the dough has commercial yeast, sourdough starter, or another leavening agent like baking soda or powder. Typically the dough rests for several hours before baking and grows in size during that time. Once in the oven the bread rises more, giving it height and structure and that airy texture we are all familiar with. Unleavened bread is simply flour of some sort mixed with water and occasionally a few other ingredients, but no leaven. It is then baked quickly, in the oven or on the stovetop. Unleavened breads come out of the oven flat, and can be soft or crunchy depending on the thickness of the dough and how long it was baked.

What about the rabbinical rules though?

Rabbinical rules are just that, rules made up by men - rabbis in this case. There are many complicated rabbinical laws related to unleavened bread, like from when the flour first hits water it has to be baked within 18 minutes. We should know that while there may be wonderful intentions behind instructions like this, that does not mean these rules are the word of God. You are free to keep the Biblical holidays by only following what the Bible says. You do not have to adhere to manmade religious customs. If you are looking for the rabbinic laws regarding Passover and Unleavened Bread, you will not find them here.

Trying out different unleavened recipes can be a great activity during the holiday. How fun would it be to have a different type of unleavened bread each day of the week? Or you could do a potluck with several different kinds! 

12 Unleavened Bread Recipes for Passover:

One Ingredient Socca from Pinch of Yum

Whole Wheat Crackers from A Couple Cooks

Crepes from Cookie and Kate

Tortillas from Minimalist Baker

Einkorn Matzah Bread from Land of Honey

Arepas from Minimalist Baker

Gozleme from Recipe Tin Eats

Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies from Sprinkle Bakes

Five Ingredient Buckwheat Crepes (Gluten Free) from Minimalist Baker

Gluten Free Scallion Pancakes from Snixy Kitchen

Homemade Crackers from A Couple Cooks

Strawberry Crepes from Well Plated

Please keep in mind that there are many other types of unleavened bread that you could use to celebrate this Biblical holiday. Many cultures from every continent have some sort of unleavened bread recipe from Ethiopian kitcha bread to Chinese pancakes to tortillas to Indian chapati to much more. Any unleavened bread would be a lovely way to celebrate these Biblical feasts!

More recipes for Passover and Unleavened Bread:
Recipes to Use Homemade Matzah In
Blood on the Doorpost Passover Dessert
Meal Ideas and Recipes for the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Recipes to Use Your Homemade Matzah In

What do you eat with unleavened bread? If you're making your own matzah from my recipe or something similar, it will be comparable to Indian naan bread. Like naan, homemade matzah goes great with curries and soups! The possibilities don't stop there though: you can make some serious breakfast sandwiches with homemade matzah or make crispy unleavened bread and dip it into hummus or labneh. Or try using it as a base for pizza or a tasty flatbread. This is a versatile ingredient, so there are all sorts of possibilities out there!

Homemade matzah works well in place of naan, pita, crackers, or even bagels in the recipes below. Make yourself a batch and you'll be eating well this week!

30 Minute Indian Pumpkin Butter Chickpeas from Half Baked Harvest
Unleavened bread is a welcome addition to any curry or daal recipe.

Turkish Fried Eggs in Herbed Yogurt from Half Baked Harvest
Soft and chewy homemade matzah is a great stand in for toast. You can toast your unleavened bread in a skillet, the oven, or the toaster if it fits!

Crispy Baked Falafel Pitas from Love and Lemons
Homemade matzah is pliable and a good stand it for pitas in falafel sandwiches.

Labneh Yogurt Cheese from A Couple Cooks
Use matzah in place of pitas, pita chips, or crackers to eat with cheese, dips, and hummus. It's delicious soft or crispy. (For crispy matzah - either bake a little longer to begin with, or cut your matzah into pieces and then bake in the oven for a few minutes until dry and crispy.)

Roasted Cauliflower Hummus Bowls from Pinch of Yum
Can't stop, won't stop dipping unleavened bread into a great bowl of hummus!

Chicken Souvlaki Bowls with Garlic Fries from Half Baked Harvest
Change up your kosher for Passover recipe rotation with a dinner like this. Lots of the prep can be done ahead too!

Easy Pita Pizza from A Couple Cooks
Yes, you totally can make matzah pizzas from your homemade bread! Just add sauce, cheese, and toppings for a hands-on dinner that kids love.

Smoked Salmon Platter from How Sweet Eats
Why not eat unleavened bread with all of your favorite bagel toppings? Cream cheese, smoked salmon, eggs, and veggies all would be great on matzah.

Ricotta Naan with Fried Eggs and Sweet Potato Fries from Half Baked Harvest
Another breakfast sandwich take. See that avocado on their? You could go full unleavened avocado toast if that's your style.

Roasted Broccoli Rabe Pesto Flatbread from Cookie and Kate
Homemade unleavened bread makes the perfect stand in for store-bought flatbread. Topping possibilities are endless too!

Potato Cauliflower Red Lentil Curry from Minimalist Baker
Dip plain matzah into curry or take it up a notch with a smear of garlic butter.

Chicken Shawarma Naan Salad with Sweet Potato Fries from Half Baked Harvest
Up your salad game with sweet potato fries and then wrap it all in a warm piece of unleavened bread!

Try any of these recipes with my Homemade Einkorn Unleavened Bread recipe.

Lots more kosher for Passover recipes can be found here.